Fatima Nafees, the 48-year-old mother of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, and other students, were allegedly dragged and lifted by over half a dozen police personnel before being detained from outside the Delhi High Court on Monday. While police claimed they were detained because they were demonstrating at a place where protests were not permitted, Nafees’ relatives said the detention was unprovoked.

“An information was received from one Ms Geeta, a student of JNU that at 12 pm, 30-40 people will hold a dharna at Delhi High Court with regard to the disappearance of Najeeb. The SHO informed Ms Geeta through SMS that demonstration/ dharna is not permitted outside Delhi High Court, and advised them to hold the same at Ramlila Maidan. Thereafter, the police staff and water cannons were deployed to meet any emergent situation,” said DCP (New Delhi) B K Singh.

“At about 2 pm, 30-40 people gathered at HC gate no 5 and started raising slogans. They also tried to enter the HC through gate no 5… Keeping in view the security of High Court and the general public, 18 men and five women were detained and taken to police stations. Najeeb Ahmad’s mother was also part of the demonstration. She was removed from the spot along with Ms Geeta and brought to Tilak Marg police station. There, she was told she could go anywhere if she wishes to but she intentionally stayed back till her advocates arrived,” he added.

However, Najeeb’s cousin, Sadaf Musharraf said Nafees was detained even though she was not part of the protest. “She was suddenly picked up by police, without any reason. There was no protest from where she was picked up. They manhandled her and Geeta, their clothes were torn and they sustained injuries. She (Nafees) had to be put on an IV drip and even received dressing on her toe, after she was released,” said Musharraf.